Apparatus for depositing metals.



No. 866,858. I PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

A W. A. HENDRYX.

APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING METALS.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE ab. 1905.

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' W. A. HENDRYX. APPARATUS PGR DBPOSITING METALS.

PATENTBD SEPT. 24, 1 907.

W. A. HENDRYX.

APPARATUS POR DEPOSITING METALS.

APPLICATION IILBD JUNE 30. 1905.

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w. A. HENDRYX. APPARATUS TOR DEPOASTTING METALS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. 1905T 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBUR A. HENDRYX, OF DENVER, COLOR-ADO.

APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING METALS.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that IVWILBUR A. HENDRYX, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at the city and county of Denver' and State ofColorado, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for DepositingMetals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for theseparation of gold, silver, copper, and other metallic values fromsolutions containing the same, and more particularly from cyanidsolutions of the precious metals. In the use of the apparatus thesolutions are caused to pass through a filtering medium or envelop andinto contact with metal-depositing means covered`or enveloped thereby.The filtering medium serves to separate the finely divided ore, slime orother suspended matter, whereby a substantially clear metal-bearingsolution is presented to the metal-depositing means. Themetal-depositing means may comprise any relatively electro-positivemetal, as zinc or any alloy or mechanical mixture containing the same,as specifically claimed in my co-pendingI application Serial No.296,566, filed Jan. 7, 1906: or electrodes of any material adapted forconnection with an external source of current as specifically claimedherein.

For a full understanding of my invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of one form of precipitating cell in accordancewith my invention, parts being removed, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionof the same with the electrodes and filter in place; Fig. 3 is a planview showing a plurality of cells in operative position in a tank; Fig.4 is a vertical section of the tank, the cells being shown in positiontherein; Fig. 5 is a 'fragmentary perspective view of one form of cellwith the filter and anodes removed; Fig. 6 is a transverse section ofthe upper portion of a cell having a central cathode; Fig.

7 is a fragmentary plan view of the same showing the electricalconnections; Fig. 8 is an end view of a cell showing a sack filter inposition to be secured thereto; F ig. 9 is a transverse section througha two-part cell; Fig. l() is an end elevation, partly in the section, ofa cell provided with a comminuted precipitating agent;

. Fig. 1l is a transverse section of the upper portion of a modifiedform of cell provided with two electrodes of each polarity, and Fig. l2is a transverse section of thel upper portion of a further modificationhaving a plurality of electrodes electrically connected in series.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings, l represents an open frame, preferablyrectangular, although it may be made of other suitable form. This framemay be constructed of wood or other suitable material. Disposed withinthe frame are the metal-depositing means, which may comprise electrodesof opposite polarity adapted for Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 30,1905. Serial No. 267,785.

' Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

connection to an external source of current, as hereinafter more fullydescribed; or zinc or other relatively electropositive metal or an alloyor mechanical mixture containing the same, in which case connection toan external source of current is not necessary. The cathode may becentrally disposed within the frame as shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6. Thecathode may comprise a thin sheet or plate of any suitable conductivematerial, as iron, lead, zinc or copper, as shown in Fig. 5: or I mayuse a perforated plate or conductive screen or mesh as illustrated inFigs. 2 and 6, this construction affording a somewhat increased area. Incase a sheet metal cathode is employed apertures 2A are provided in itsupper portion for circulation of the electrolyte, as shown in Fig. 5.When lead is employed it is conveniently used in sheet form, spread uponor secured to an iron plate, or preferably in form of an electrolyticdeposit upon the iron.

In the inner' edges of both sides of the frame, I form rabbeted steps,3, and 4, and in these steps I place thin sheets or plates, 5 and 6, ofany suitable material, such as asbestos, slate, wood-fiber, terra-cotta,burned clay, fire clay, or wood, but preferably use a plate composed ofa compound of asbestos and Portland cement, mixed in such proportions asto make a very strong, thin plate, in which holes can be bored, andnails driven. These plates 5 and 6 I term solution guide plates. Alongone edge of these plates, I form a row of holes, 7, and these plates areplaced in the frame and rest against the inner faces of the steps withthese holes at the lower portion of the frame. To the outside surface ofthese plates I secure several thin strips of wood or any other suitablematerial, 9, by nails or screws` but if preferred raised lugs or ribsmay be molded on the outside of the plates when they are made. On top ofthese projecting ribs or strips of these ltwo plates, I lay coarse wirescreen plates, I0 and ll, the strips or ribs holding the screen out ofcontact with the surface of the plates. On these screens I lay a lteringmedium, which may consist oi sheets or plates of any suitable filteringmaterial, such as asbestos, cloth, felt, plates of sandstone, porousterracotta, silicious compositions, or any other suitable fabric ormaterial, but I preferably use either a canvas sack, l2, or sheets ofcanvas, 13 and I4. The coarse screens act as a supporting frame for thecanvas, and with the raised ribs or strips on the solution guide plates,hold the canvas at a short distance away from their surfaces, and thusform a narrow solution flowing space between the solution guide platesand the filtering material or media l0 and Il.. These filtering mediacan be used either in the form of sheets or plates, and may be securedto the frame in any suitable manner, but I preferably secure the canvassheets by inserting their edges in grooves l5, which are formed in theopposite side edges of the frame, and wedge them in these grooves withwedge strips 1G, that are made to be driven tightly into the recess whenthe edges of the canvas are laid in them. These wedging strips draw thecanvas tight, st cure it firmly, and they are easily and quicklyremoved. l preferably use, however', in place ofthe can vas sheets, acanvas sack l7, which fits over the frame, in this case the grooves l5are made around the top edge of the frame only, as shown in Fig. 8 andthe sack is secured only at its top portion in these grooves by thewedges. To the inside surfaces of the frame of the solution guideplates, l secure by any suitable means, but preferably by screws ornails, anode plates, 19 and 20. These anode plates may be made of anysuitable material, but l preferably use carbon anode plates, andpreferably niake them somewhat smaller in area than the solution guideplates. l. connect to these anode plates one end of two circuit wires,2l and 22, which extend out through an aperture formed in the top of theframe. These wires are connected to a single wire, 25, which extends toand is operatively connected to the positive pole of a suitable electriccurrent generator. An electric current wire, 2G, is also connected at.one end to the cathode, and extends through the aperture with the anodewires, and extends to and is connected to the negative pole of the samecurrent generator. A suitable supporting and guiding tube 27, is securedin the aperture through which the wires extend, and the wires extendthrough the tube, the space in the tube around the wires being filledwith any suitable sealing material to make the aperture tight againstleakage of the solution through the tube into the interior of the frame,such as paraffin, plaster of paris, or any other suitable material whichcan be easily removed when it is desired to take one side of the envelopapart to examine or remove the cathode. ln order to form sufficientspace around the wires to thoroughly seal them, l place a reducer, 27^,on the end of the nipple.

Through the top of the frame, l form an aperture in which l screw anipple 28. l. preferably place this nipple on the opposite side of theedge of the top of the frame from the entrance tube of the circuitwires. lnstead of employing one large plate anode, as shown in Fig. 8lpreferably use an anode in the form of aplate or bar, 2f), andpreferably use several, bars, as shown in Fig. l, although if desired asingle plate of carbon can be used. To the top end of each of these bars2S), l. connect a short wire 30, which is connected to one of the mainwires 2l and 22, that extend into the frame..

ln order to prevent the solution guide frame from collapsing, under theoutside pressure due to the vacuum that is normally maintained withinthe envelop by the suction pump which l will describe hereinafter, andin order to hold the cathode between the anodes and support itvertically in the frame, l provide a plurality of braces 3l, which Iplace at suitable distances apart between the inside surface of thesolution guide plates and the opposite surfaces of the cathode, securingthem to the solution guide frames with screws 31A, as shown in Fig. (i,arranging those on the opposite sides of the cathode opposite eachother, and l provide the carbon anode plates with apertures 3l, throughwhich the braces that come in line with them extend loosely, so thatthey will abut against each other with the cathode between them. To thenipple 28 l con nect a hose or pipe 32, the opposite end of which isconnected to a tee 33, to which a nipple 34 is connected, and to thisnipple a valve 35 is connected, and at the side of this valve a nippleSti is placed, which cou neots to one end of a tee, 37, in which a shortnipple 38 is placed, to which a valve 3f) is connected. fo the oppositeend of the tee C57 a. nipple Vl() is connected. which extends to theintake aperture o1' a. vacuum pulnp 4l. To the discharge outlet of thepump a pipe 42 is connected, that connects at one end to a tee lli. fromwhich a nipple di extends and connects to :t valve 44, from which anipple Llsf-l extends and conr nects to the tee 33, in the pipe 'lo theopposite end of the tee 43, l connect one end ol' a nipple l5. to theopposite end of which a valve tti is connected, and to this valve lconnect one end of a pipe #17. the opposite end of which extends backand discharges into the cyanid or other solution or pulp in the tank orbox or receptacle in which the enveloped filteringl anode and cathode isplaced. Thus, in cyanid mills, the c vA anid solution after treatmentand separation from the ore in the large cyanid tanks by decantation orfilter-.ition could be run into suitable tanks ot' boxes. which could beequipped with my continuous metalalepositing means, and their gold andsilver and other values separated from it and in the operation thesolutions are sucked into the envelops in the presence of and in contactwith the metal-depositing means through the filtering medium, by thepump, and as the cle-.tr sollt tiens flow through the envelop and intocontact with said depositing means, the gold and silver and othermetallic values are deposited and the solution flows on to the pump 4l,through the pipc. the valve :i3 being open and the valves 39 and Lf4being closed. and passing through the pump and pipe and valve lo. whichis open through the pipe back to the solution holding tank or box. Thus,the ore pulp cyanid or other chemical solution is circulated in acontinuous stream from the body of the ore pulp c vanid or otherchemical ore pulp solution through my depositingI di vice, and pipes andpump, back to and into the bodv of ore pulp cya-nid or other chemicalsolution. .f\s the solution is sucked through the filtering medium bvthe vacutnn created by the pump, the very finely pulver ized andcomminuted ore commonly` called slimcs. which may not be fine enough topass through sieves of from about (i0 to about 250 or fitter, mesh, isconstantly attracted to and drawn against and is held against thesurface of the filtering medium bhv the suction of the vacuum, and formsa. cake on the surf-.ice ol' the filtering medium. As this cake ifallowed to ac cumulate beyond a thickness of frotn about a half inch toan inch, impedes the flow of the solution through the filtering medium,it is necessary that it be removed from time to time, and l have adaptedmy pump and piping to do this very quickly, and thoroughl)` remove thiscake, and at the same time without stopping the pump. In fact, it is necssary that. the pu'np be kept running just the same as though it wascreating :t continuous vacuum in the envelop, and l remove the cake insuch a manner that it instantly dissolves. dissipat es. and mixesthoroughly again with the body of the ovanid or other chemical ore pulp,and .l accomplish this by simply closing the valves 35 and ttl andopeningthe valves 3f) and 44, and this permits the pump to pump andcompress air through the valve i l and pipe 42, and force it through thenipple 'lr and valve ft fl t) lflO llf

and nipple 44A and pipe 32 back into the enveloped anode and cathodeframe, and through the filtering medium or material on opposite sides ofthe frame and against the cakes, and blows them loose of the filteringmedium, and they slide down and dissolve into the body of the ore pulp.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I illustrate a different method of securing thecurrent wires to the anodes from that shown in Figs. l and 2, saidchange being a preferred arrangement of these connections where a canvasor other filtering material sack is used (see Fig. 8), in which theelectrode supporting frame is placed instead of the sheets of canvas, asillustrated in Figs. I and 2. In this arrangement, the electric currentconducting wires 2l and 22, are pieces of any suitable conductive wire,and they extend through holes A formed through the top of the frame inwhich they fit snugly but removably, being tight enough to preventleakage into the frame. The anode connecting ends of these wires arethreaded and in the top edge of the anode frames threaded holes 2lA and224 are formed, which fit the threaded ends of the wires. The outer endsof these wires are bent at right angles, and extend into the oppositeends of a tee 20B, to which they are secured by set-screws 20C, whichare threaded through the sides of the tee, and the general or singlewire from the generator enters the top aperture of the tee and issecured thereto by a set-screw 2CD, that is threaded in the side of thetee. To remove either one or both of these anodes, it is necessary onlyto loosen the set-screws and disconnect the tee from them, and thenunscrew them from the anodes.

In Fig. 9. l. illustrate a divided or separable anode and cathode andfiltering material supporting frame. This frame is divided centrally soas to divide it into two parts or half frames, lA and IB. These twoparts may be secured together by any suitable means, but I preferablybolt them together by a number of bolts IC, which are placed at suitabledistances apart around the frame. A rubber Washer or gasket lD, isinserted between the two parts of the frame, in a groove 1E, which isformed partially in the meeting surfaces of each half. rlhis gasket isarranged to be clamped tight enough between these two frames to preventleakage of ore pulp solutions into the interior of the frame, when itstwo parts are tightly secured together. I do not illustrate a cathode oranode in this frame, but they can be in.- serted and secured. in thisdivided frame in a similar manner as in the frame shown in Figs. l, 2,and 6, that is, by being held between the ends of the lateral braces;

- or they may beheld iu any other desired order or arrangement.

In Fig. l0, I illustrate an envelopedielectrode that is a modificationof the electrodes illustrated in the other' views of the drawings. Inthis modification, the frame and filtering sack and its supportingframe, are the same as in the other views, but the solution guide platesare preferably omitted, although they may be.

solutions such as have been described. In case the solution guide platesand the anodes and cathode and the current wires and the generator areused, however, the Zinc shavings can be packed in betweenthe anodes andcathodcs without interfering with their electrical action, provided carebe taken to avoid a short circuit. In either case th e solution outletnipple and the system of piping and the pump for drawing the solutionthrough the filter into the frame, and returning it, and for forcing theslimes cake from the filtering medium at intervals, are used, and thesolutions are sucked through the Zinc shavings to the pump, and areforced back again to their source of supply, and the pump is manipulatcdto compress air and force such solutions and compressed air back throughthe zinc and filtering medium into the supply of solution the electrodeis immersed in.

In Fig. 1.1, I illustrate a divided two part or halved frame, in whichtwo cathodes are placed, and each cathode has an anode between it andits adjacent filtering medium. The solution outlet nipple is preferablyplaced between the cathodes, in one of the half parts of the fra-me.

In Fig. l2, I illustrate my enveloped solution filtering and circulatingand slimes removing electrode, arranged in series. In this arrangement,the plates 47B, may consist of any suitable material, and one side ofeach plate facing the positive current wire 47C, is an anode, and theopposite side of each plate from the positive side and facing thenegative-current wire 47D, is a cathode. Consequently, it does not makeany difference what the plates in this arrangement are made of, as theycan all be carbon, iron, zinc, lead, copper, or any other suitablematerial. The side of each plate that faces the positive current wirewill be an anode, and the opposite of each plate will be a cathode. Thel0() construction of the frame and filtering medium are the same as inthe other views, but an integral or a divided two part frame can be usedas desired.

My metal-depositing device is especially adapted for use in theapparatus for which Letters Patent of the 105 United States No. 785,214,were issued to me March 21st, 1905, or in the process described in myco-pending application No. 225,246; and in Figs. 3 and 4, I illustratemy improved envelop operatively arranged in my apparatus for extractingmetals from their ores, and 1 1() in using'my metal-depositing cells, Ipreferably employ a number or series of them grouped together in groups26A, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and preferably place several groups ineach agitating tank 48, preferably rising four groups as shown. Eachgroup of envelops is supl l5 ported on a frame of timbers 49, which isbuilt in the tank and forms a supporting staging for the groups ofanodes. Each group may consist of any desired number of envelops, andeach envelop is connected with the envelop on either side, by nipples50, which are connected by unions 5l, the union in each group adjacentto the side of the tank connecting with a short pipe 52, which projectsthrough the shell of the tank. A hose may be used if desired in place ofthe pipe and hose coupling in place of the unions. There areconsequently four groups of envelops shown in Fig. 3, and four of thepipes 52, and the outer ends of these four pipes connect to four tees54, which are inserted in a hoop shaped pipe 55, which is curved aroundthe tank, and at one point contains a tee 56, to which one end of thepipe 32 is connected, the opposite end of which extends to the tee ofthe pumps system of pipe connections and valves, as above enumerated, tooperate the enveloped electrodes, and to return the clear solution tothe tank, and to from time to time remove the cake of slimes from thevfiltering material. '.lhe tank 4S illustrated in Figs. 3 and It, is theagitating tank shown in my patent and application above referred to, andthe group of envelops are supported in it.

As the electro-cyanid process l employ for extract ing the gold andsilver and other values from ores, requires fine grinding, and the finerthe better, as the gold and silver and other metallic values are therebymore thoroughly freed, and also places them in condition to be morefully and thoroughly acted on by the cyanid solutions electrolytically,and as this fine pnlverizing and grinding of the cyanid ore pulp makesfine slimes, and as in some ores where bare cathodes are exposed in thecyanid ore pulp solutions, as in my patent and process above referredto, it was found that the very fine slimes of some ores coated thecathode, and slowly but continuously lessened and hindered the recoveryof the values of the solution as the slimes accumulated on the cathode,which necessitated frequent removal of the cathodes and the cleaning ofthem in order to thoroughly extract the values in a reasonable time, itis to obviate this objectionable feature principally that l haveinvented my enveloped depositing cell, and in order to facilitate theflow of' the cyanid ore pulp solution to them, I employ the vacuumsuction and pump and return the solution to the tank, thus causing it toflow in a continuous stream through the depositing cell back to thetank. The solution that is drawn through the filtering medium is veryclear, and entirely free from the finest slimes of the ore pulp.

In the tank 48, the numeral 58 designates a central pump casing, inwhich a propeller pump 59 is rotatably mounted, at the top of the pumpcasing a conical deflector G0 is placed and at the bottom of the casinga valve (il and a discharge outlet G2 are placed, A valve stern G3 isconnected to the valve, and extends loosely up through and above thepump shaft, and contains a hand wheel at its top, (not shown) by whichthe valve is operated, and just above the valve at the bottom of thecasing apertures G5 are formed in thc casing. The body of the tank isfilled with cyanid or other chemical ore pulp, which enters theapertures in the pump casing, and fills it to its level in the tank. Thepump is rotated by any suitable power operatively connected to it, andthe ore pulp is drawn into the bottom of the pump casing and is liftedor pumped up through the casing, and discharged on top of the conicaldistributor, over which it flows, in contact with the atmosphere, andfrom the circumferential. edge of which it drops into the body of orepulp in the tank, which is constantly flowing downward and being pumpedor lifted up through the pump casing. My filtering cells 26A, in

groups, are completely submerged in the cyan id or oth er chemical orepulp solution of the tank, as shown in Fig. 4. I preferably connect eachgroup of enveloped electrodes to the generator in the following manner:on one side 48A of the tank l place two groups of electrodes, andconnect the anod es of each group together by a wire G8, which connectsto the wires 25, which extend from one anode to the other and thatconnect to the anode wires 2l and '22, in the tee 20. The wire (3S thenextends to and connects to the wire (S5), which extends to and connectsto the positive pole of the generator Tt). On the opposite side of thetank, l connect the two opposite groups of electrodes together by a wire7 l, which is connected to the anode wires 2l and 22 and theireonnecting tee 20 and their connecting wires` 25, This wire 7l extendsto and is connected to the end ol' the generator' wire 69, the threewires (S8, 7l, and till being preferably connected together at (39A. Allol' the cathode wires 2G of the two groups of electrodes on the sideL18A of the tank, are connected to a wire 72, which connects to a wire73, that extends to and connects to a wire '74, that extends to andconnects to the negative pole of the generator '70. The cathode wires 2oot' the two groups of electrodes on the side 4S" ol the tank. areconnected to wires 75, which are connected to a wire Ttl that extends toand connects to the generator wire 7l, the three wires 73, 74, and 76meeting togetherl at the point 74A. A current supply of from about ,U5to :t amperes with a potential difference of `from about T to l0 volts,is used for the electrolytic recovery of the metallic values of mostores.

As the ore pulp solution flows dowiuvard through the body of the tanks,it flows down between the enveloped electrodes, and the solution is srked through the canvas or other suitable filtering medium from bothsides of the envelop frame against the surface ot' the solution guideplates, and flows through the perfor-ations in the bottom of them upalongside of and between the anodes on the opposite sides of the envelopand the e-.u hode in the center of it, and is sucked out of the envelopto the pump as above described, and forced back to the tank, and theslimcs are drawn to and stick on and aecumulate on the surface of thecanvas or et her filtering medium used, but are blown off from time totime, but in the moving ore pulp solution, they are almost instantlydissipated and mix with the endlessl tlowing stream of ore pulp.

My invention enables me to deposit the gold and silver and othermetallic values in a very pure ele-ar form, as a hard plate or as asub-oxid of the metals deposited. In either case the metals are easilyremoved from the cathodes. illy invention also enables me to recover avery large percentage of the precious and ot her metals from cyanid orother chemical, ore pulp solutions, in a period of time of from aboutlive to twelve hours.

My invention contemplates any and all arrangements of clectrolyticanodes and cathodes or other metal-depositing means, and ol makinganodes and cathodes in any suitable operative forms, or arrangements,and the use of anodcs and cathodes composed ot' any suitable metals,materials, compositions. eompounds, or alloys, and of enveloping,inelosing. int-asing, surrounding, or covering them in any manner ororder' of arrairgementy in any suitable filtering matt rial or medium,and of circulating cyanid of other chemical ore pulp solutions throughthem and back to their source of supply, by airy suitable means. and ofremoving the ore pulp or slirnes cake from the outer surface of thefiltering material or medium, at predeten mined periods of time, duringthe clectrolvtic dcpo sition of the gold, silver, and other metals fromthe ore pulp solutions on the cathodes of the electrode.

Sli

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to. secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. A depositing cell comprising a filtering medium and metal depositingmeans, said filtering medium beingl adapted to permit the readydetachment of solid matter accumulating thereon, substantially asdescribed.

2. A depositing cell comprising a filtering medium and metal depositingmeans, and means for passing a metal bearing solution through saidfiltering medium and into Contact with said depositing means, saidfiltering medium being adapted to permit the ready detachment of solidmattei' accumulating thereon, substantially as described.

3, A depositing cell comprising a filtering medium and' metal depositingmeans, and means for passing a metal bearing solution successivelythrough said filtering medium and depositing means, said filteringmedium being adapted to permit the ready detachment of solid matteraccumu lating thereon, substantially as described.

4. A depositing cell comprising a filtering medium, a

support therefor, and metal depositing means, said filtering mediumbeing adapted to permit the ready detachment of solid matteraccumulating thereon, substantially as described.

5, A depositing cell comprising an open frame, a filtering mediumcarried thereby,and metal depositingmeans within said frame,substantially as described.

(i. A depositing cell comprising metal depositing means, and afiltering` medium arranged to cover the same and adapted to permit theready detachment of solid mattei' accumulating thereon, substantially asdescribed.

T. A depositing cell comprising metal depositing means. and a filteringmedium arranged to envelop the same and adapted to permit the readydetachment of solid matter accumulating thereon, substantially asdescribed.

S. A depositing cell comprising an open frame, supportingl means carriedthereby, a filtering medium disposed upon said supporting means, andmetal depositing means within said frame, substantially as described.

il. In apparatus for recovering metals, a tank, and a depositing celltherein, said cell comprising metal depositing means and a filteringmedium, substantially as described.

In apparatus for recovering metals, a tank, and a plurality ofdepositing cells therein, each of said cells comprising metal depositingmeans and a filtering medium, substantially as described.

11. A depositing cell comprising a filtering medium and electrodesadapted for connection to an external source of current, said filteringmedium being adapted to permit -the ready detachment 0f solid mattei'accumulating thereon, substantially as described.

l2. A depositing cell comprising a filtering medium and electrodesadapted for connection to an external source of current, and means forpassing a metal bearing solution successively through said filteringmedium and metal depositing means, said filtering medium being adaptedto permit the ready detachment of solid matter' accumulating thereon,substantially as described.

12%. A depositing cell comprising electrodes adapted for connection toan external source of current, and a filtering medium arranged to coverthe same and adapted to permit the ready detachment of solid mattei'accumulating thereA on, substantially as described.

14. A depositing cell comprising an open frame, supA porting meanscarried thereby, a filtering medium disposed upon said supporting means,and electrodes adapted for connection to an external source of currentwithin said frame, substantially as described.

15. In apparatus for recovering metals, a tank and a depositing celltherein, said cell comprising electrodes adapted for connection to anexternal source of current and a filtering medium, substantially asdescribed.

16. In apparatus for recovering metals, a tank, a plurality ofdepositing cells in position to be submerged in the material in saidtank, each cell comprising metal depositing means and a filteringmedium, and means for withdrawing the metal bearing solution from saidtank through said cells` substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILBUR A. HENDRYX.

Witnesses G. SARGENT ELLIOTT,

SARAH L. Boo'rH.

